Shreyas Iyer's IPL 2025 Showdown: PBKS vs KKR – A Battle of Former Glory and New Rivalries

Shreyas Iyer vs KKR – From Lifting the Trophy to Facing His Old Squad

What a twist life can take in a year! Just a season ago, Shreyas Iyer was basking in glory as the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), lifting the coveted IPL trophy. Fast forward to IPL 2025, and he’s donning a different jersey, walking out as the captain of Punjab Kings (PBKS) — and facing the very team he once led to triumph. Mullanpur is all set for a blockbuster face-off!

This match isn’t just another league encounter. It’s got emotions, storylines, rivalries, and some serious firepower on both sides. Here’s why you should not miss this one.

🔥 Big Numbers, Bigger Impact – Iyer’s Bat Is On Fire

Ever since his move to Punjab Kings, Shreyas Iyer seems like a man reborn. Under the mentorship of Ricky Ponting, he’s brought back the swag. In IPL 2024, Iyer had an impressive strike rate of 146.86. But this season? He’s taken it to a whole new level – a blistering 208.33, making him the highest strike-rate Indian batter this season (among those who’ve faced at least 100 balls). Only Nicholas Pooran has been better in that regard!

Also worth noting — Iyer’s short-ball struggles seem to be history. The man’s pulling, hooking, and cutting like a beast, keeping pacers on their toes.

🔥 Quick Highlights to Amp You Up:

• PBKS chased down 262 against KKR last season — a T20 world record!

• KKR leads head-to-head with a dominant 21-12 record.

• Iyer has scored 42 runs off Narine (dismissed once) and 38 off Varun (dismissed once) — a balanced battle on the cards!

• KKR still hasn’t registered a 50+ opening partnership this season.

Spin Duel Incoming – KKR’s Trump Card vs PBKS’ Gamble

Here’s where the contest might swing — spin! KKR’s spin department is looking elite. Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy have been breathing fire, bowling 41 of the team’s 49 spin overs. Their average (20.62) and economy (6.73) are comfortably the best this season. Add Moeen Ali’s spin options, and you’ve got a tricky trio.

But PBKS won’t back down. Though Yuzvendra Chahal is yet to find form, we all know his potential. He’s the highest wicket-taker in IPL history, and PBKS would love to see him bring that magic back.

➡️ Chahal’s 2025 so far: 15 overs | 83.50 average | 11.13 economy
Compare that with his previous years (minimum 18 wickets every season from 2019 to 2024), and you’ll realize how much PBKS is banking on his experience.

Team Talks – Who’s In, Who’s Out

Injuries are forcing changes. PBKS’ overseas fast bowler Lockie Ferguson is out with injury, suffered during the Sunrisers clash. This opens the door for options like Xavier Bartlett, or allrounders like Azmatullah Omarzai or Aaron Hardie.

📋 Probable XI – Punjab Kings:

1. Prabhsimran Singh (wk)

2. Priyansh Arya

3. Shreyas Iyer (capt)

4. Nehal Wadhera

5. Shashank Singh

6. Glenn Maxwell

7. Marcus Stoinis

8. Omarzai/Hardie

9. Marco Jansen

10. Yuzvendra Chahal

11. Arshdeep Singh

12. Yash Thakur

📋 Probable XI – Kolkata Knight Riders:

1. Quinton de Kock (wk)

2. Sunil Narine

3. Ajinkya Rahane (capt)

4. Angkrish Raghuvanshi

5. Venkatesh Iyer

6. Rinku Singh

7. Andre Russell

8. Ramandeep Singh

9. Moeen Ali

10. Harshit Rana

11. Vaibhav Arora

12. Varun Chakravarthy

Form Check – Mixed Bag So Far

Consistency? Not quite. PBKS and KKR have had their share of ups and downs this season.
📊 PBKS form: L-W-L-W-W
📊 KKR form: W-L-W-L-W

While KKR just handed CSK their fifth straight defeat, PBKS too is peaking at the right time. Momentum is going to be key here.

Pitch and Weather Watch – Mullanpur Calling

The pitch at Mullanpur has been a run-feast this season! Both matches so far have seen 200+ scores when batting first, and both were defended successfully. Expect another high-scoring thriller on Tuesday.

🌡️ Weather update: Morning could hit 38°C, but by match time it’ll cool down to a pleasant 27°C — ideal conditions for a run fest.

Maxwell & Chahal – Missing in Action?

Let’s talk about PBKS' two big investments:

• Yuzvendra Chahal – INR 18 crore

• Glenn Maxwell – INR 4.2 crore

But the returns? Not quite there.
🔸 Maxwell’s stats: 34 runs in 4 innings. That’s it.
🔸 Chahal’s stats we’ve already covered — not great, to put it lightly.

If PBKS has any hope of going deep in the playoffs, these two need to fire — and fast.

Captain Watch – Calm vs Confidence

An interesting subplot in this battle is the clash of captaincy styles.
KKR's Ajinkya Rahane is the epitome of calm. As Ramandeep Singh recently said:

“Rahane brings calmness to the dugout. He’s the kind of player young guys should look up to. The way he handles pressure is amazing.”

On the flip side, Shreyas Iyer leads with flair and confidence.

“He executes plans with precision and has that spark.”

Different approaches, both effective in their own ways.

Quote That Says It All

James Hopes, PBKS’ fast-bowling coach, summed it up nicely:

“We’ve got a big week ahead with two games against KKR and RCB. If we come out strong, we’ll be well placed in the second half of the season.”

Key Players to Keep an Eye On 👀

1. Shreyas Iyer – Will the former KKR captain come back to haunt them?

2. Yuzvendra Chahal – Can he rediscover his golden touch?

3. Ajinkya Rahane – Only KKR batter with 200+ runs this season.

4. Sunil Narine & Varun Chakravarthy – Can they break Iyer’s rhythm?

5. Glenn Maxwell – Is he due for a 'Big Show' moment?

The Final Word

With emotions, revenge, spin battles, and pressure-packed moments all lined up, PBKS vs KKR in Mullanpur has all the ingredients of a thriller. Whether it’s Iyer writing a redemption story or KKR spinning a web once again — fans are in for a treat.

Grab your popcorn and tune in. Because this isn’t just another IPL match — it’s personal!